Suvarna Garge (Editor)

1991 Toronto Blue Jays season

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Record
  
91–71 (.562)

General manager(s)
  
Pat Gillick

Divisional place
  
1st

Owner(s)
  
Labatt Breweries, Imperial Trust, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

Manager(s)
  
Cito Gaston, Gene Tenace

Local television
  
CFTO-TV (Don Chevrier, Tommy Hutton, Fergie Olver) The Sports Network (Jim Hughson, Buck Martinez)

The 1991 Toronto Blue Jays season was the franchise's fifteenth season of Major League Baseball. It resulted in the Blue Jays finishing first in the American League East with a record of 91 wins and 71 losses. The team's paid attendance of 4,001,527 led the major leagues, as the Jays became the first team in MLB history to draw four million fans in a season. Toronto lost the ALCS to the eventual world champion Minnesota Twins in five games.

Contents

Offseason

On December 4, 1990, the San Diego Padres and Blue Jays made one of the biggest blockbuster deals of the decade. The Padres traded second baseman Roberto Alomar and outfielder Joe Carter to the Blue Jays in exchange for first baseman Fred McGriff and shortstop Tony Fernández. Blue Jays GM Pat Gillick and Padres GM Joe McIlvaine originally talked about just trading Joe Carter for Fred McGriff. The Padres were losing Jack Clark and needed a new first baseman. The Blue Jays had John Olerud ready to take over at first base but were losing outfielder George Bell. Gillick decided to up the ante by trying to get Alomar. Gillick figured that with Garry Templeton in the twilight of his career, Fernández would be an adequate replacement. Alomar feuded with Padres manager Greg Riddoch and the thinking was that Bip Roberts and Joey Cora could platoon at second base. Over the next two seasons, Alomar and Carter would help the Blue Jays win the 1992 World Series and 1993 World Series.

Transactions

  • October 24, 1990: Jim Eppard was released by the Blue Jays.
  • November 26, 1990: Ken Dayley was signed as a free agent by the Blue Jays.
  • December 2, 1990: Junior Félix, Luis Sojo and a player to be named later were traded by the Blue Jays to the California Angels for Devon White, Willie Fraser and Marcus Moore. The Blue Jays completed the deal by sending Ken Rivers (minors) to the Angels on December 4.
  • December 4, 1990: Fred McGriff and Tony Fernández were traded by the Blue Jays to the San Diego Padres for Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar.
  • December 5, 1990: Pat Tabler was signed as a free agent by the Blue Jays.
  • December 14, 1990: Paul Kilgus was traded by the Blue Jays to the Baltimore Orioles for Mickey Weston.

    • Regular season

  • May 1, 1991: The Blue Jays were part of baseball history, as Nolan Ryan threw his seventh and last no-hitter against them in Arlington.
  • July 1, 1991: Joe Carter was named the AL Player of the Month for the month of June.
  • August 13, 1991: After making 25 consecutive save opportunities, Tom Henke picked up a blown save after Paul Molitor hit a home run in the ninth.
  • October 2, 1991: The Blue Jays clinched the American League East title in a 6-5 walk-off win over the California Angels. Joe Carter hit the game-winning single. The Jays also became the first team to have their season attendance pass the 4 million mark.

    • Opening Day starters

  • Roberto Alomar
  • Joe Carter
  • Kelly Gruber
  • Manuel Lee
  • Rance Mulliniks
  • Greg Myers
  • John Olerud
  • Dave Stieb
  • Devon White
  • Mookie Wilson

    • Notable transactions

  • June 3, 1991: 1991 Major League Baseball draft
  • Shawn Green was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 1st round (16th pick). Player signed September 25, 1991.
  • Jeff Ware was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 1st round (35th pick). Player signed August 25, 1991.
  • Dante Powell was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 1st round (42nd pick), but did not sign.
  • Chris Stynes was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 3rd round. Player signed June 4, 1991.
  • Alex Gonzalez was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 14th round. Player signed June 12, 1991.
  • June 4, 1991: Kenny Williams was selected off waivers from the Blue Jays by the Montreal Expos.
  • June 27, 1991: Glenallen Hill, Denis Boucher, Mark Whiten, and cash were traded by the Blue Jays to the Cleveland Indians for Tom Candiotti and Turner Ward.
  • July 14, 1991: Shawn Jeter and a player to be named later were traded by the Blue Jays to the Chicago White Sox for Cory Snyder. The Blue Jays completed the deal by sending Steve Wapnick to the White Sox on September 4.
  • August 9, 1991: Rob Wishnevski (minors) and a player to be named later were traded by the Blue Jays to the Milwaukee Brewers for Candy Maldonado. The Blue Jays completed the deal by sending William Suero to the Brewers on August 14.
  • September 14, 1991: Dave Parker was signed as a free agent by the Blue Jays.

    • All-Star game

    The Blue Jays hosted the 1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It was the 62nd Midsummer Classic and was played on July 9 at SkyDome. Roberto Alomar was voted in as the starting second baseman for the American League, while pitcher Jimmy Key and outfielder Joe Carter were named as reserves on the AL team. Key got the win as the American League's All-Stars triumphed over the National League All-Stars, 4-2.

    Starters by position

    Note: Pos = position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Game 1

    October 8, Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

    Game 2

    October 9, Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

    Game 3

    October 11, Skydome

    Game 4

    October 12, Skydome

    Game 5

    October 13, Skydome

    Award winners

  • Roberto Alomar, 2B, Gold Glove Award
  • Joe Carter, Player of the Month Award, June
  • Joe Carter, OF, Silver Slugger Award
  • Juan Guzman, P, The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award
  • Devon White, OF, Gold Glove Award

    • All-Star Game

  • Roberto Alomar, 2B, Starter
  • Joe Carter, OF, Reserve
  • Jimmy Key, P, Reserve

    • References

    1991 Toronto Blue Jays season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA